William Humphrey
William Jonathan Humphrey (January 2, 1875 – October 4, 1942) was an American actor and film director.
Born in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, William Humphrey was a well-known member of the early stock company of Vitagraph Studios. Without the romantic looks to become a real star, he nevertheless played leads in Shakespeare and other important studio productions of the day. He also directed or co-directed eighty films between 1911 and 1927, including comedian Mabel Normand in the 1918 propaganda drama entitled Joan of Plattsburg.
In the late silent era, Humphrey, with other original Vitagraph actors such as Florence Turner, Maurice Costello, and Flora Finch, was kept on the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer payroll for expert playing of character roles. For MGM, he had roles in One Night in Rome (1924) starring Laurette Taylor and The Actress (1928) starring Norma Shearer. He acted in 138 films altogether and continued until 1937.
On October 4, 1942, Humphrey died of a coronary thrombosis in Hollywood, California.
Acted in
False Pretenses
1935
as Newman
Get That Man
1935
as Mr. Brownlee
The Fighting Pilot
1935
as F.S. Reynolds
Are We Civilized?
1934
as Napoleon
The Crime of Helen Stanley
1934
as Doctor (uncredited)
Secret Sinners
1933
as The Music Publisher
Curtain at Eight
1933
as Allison, addled actor
Cheating Blondes
1933
as Jim - City Editor
Tangled Destinies
1932
as Professor Hartley
The Cowboy Counsellor
1932
as Judge Kendell
Madame Racketeer
1932
as Bank Director
Manhattan Parade
1931
as Napoleon
Murder at Midnight
1931
as Colton
Subway Express
1931
as Mr. Cotton
Devil-May-Care
1929
as Napoleon Bonaparte
The Actress
1928
as Mr. Telfer
The Silent Lover
1926
as Cornelius Sherman
The Dice Woman
1926
as Ship Captain
The Volga Boatman
1926
as Head of the Tribunal
The Phantom of the Opera
1925
as M. Debienne (uncredited)
Lady Robinhood
1925
as Governor
The Unholy Three
1925
as Attorney for Defense
Drusilla with a Million
1925
as John Thornton
Dangerous Innocence
1925
as John Church
Beau Brummel
1924
as Lord Alvanley
The Arizona Express
1924
as Henry MacFarlane
The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln
1924
as Stephen A. Douglas
The Man Life Passed By
1923
as The Lawyer
The Social Code
1923
as District Attorney
Scaramouche
1923
as The Chevalier de Chabrillane
The Strangers' Banquet
1922
as Groom's Friend
The Way of a Woman
1919
as Nathan Caspar (as William Humphreys)
Polishing Up
1914
as Dr. Reynolds
Uncle Bill
1914
as John Mason
A Princess of Bagdad
1913
as The Caliph
The Butler's Secret
1913
as Alfred Dixon
Mixed Identities
1913
as Sparkins Carter
The Money Kings
1912
as James Montepier - the Father
Her Forgotten Dancing Shoes
1912
The Heart of the King's Jester
1912
as The King
An Aeroplane Elopement
1911
as Mr. Brooks - Maud's Father
A Message from Beyond
1911
as Mr. Morrison - Jack's Father
The Death of King Edward III
1911
Picciola; or, The Prison Flower
1911
as Comte de Charney, a Prisoner
A Tale of Two Cities
1911
as The Duke D'Evremon
Hako's Sacrifice
1910
Twelfth Night
1910
as Sir Toby Belch
Richelieu; or: The Conspiracy
1910
A Midsummer Night's Dream
1909
The Life of Moses
1909
Benedict Arnold
1909
as Major Andre
The Way of the Cross
1909
Oliver Twist
1909
as Fagin
The Judgment of Solomon
1909
Napoleon and the Empress Josephine
1909
as Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon, the Man of Destiny
1909
as Napoleon